Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2022 discussion

If you are willing to place one of your February reading choices in the hands of another person, leave a comment here with at least five books and no more than ten from your TBR shelf. Participants need to leave comments no later than January 25th.

Here's how it will work:
Sophia will match people up and leave a comment with a list of who will choose for whom.
When you see the person you are to pick for, then just look at their list in the above comments and leave a new comment with their name and the book you chose for them by January 31st.

You also need to watch and see what book your person chose from your list for you.
You have the rest of the month to read the book.

So if this sounds like something you would like to do, just comment below leaving your name and list of book choices for someone to pick your February book.

My list might very well change by the end of January, but here's what I'm going with at the moment.

1. Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
2. What Happened on Box Hill by Elizabeth Gilliland
3. Mansfield Parsonage: A Mansfield Park Regency Novel by Kyra Kramer
4. An Unexpected Harvest: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Variation by Cat Andrews
5. Celestial Persuasion by Mirta Trupp
6. Mages and Mysteries: A Fantasy Pride and Prejudice Variation by Victoria Kincaid
7. Epiphany by Jessie Lewis
8. Pride by Ibi Zoboi
9. The Dragons of Kellynch by Maria Grace
10. The Third Sister: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility by Julia Barrett

Hmm, what happened on Box Hill? The opening scene of my latest takes place on Box Hill—maybe I should read to compare! An Celestial Persuasion is a lovely story.

Abigail wrote: "Hmm, what happened on Box Hill? The opening scene of my latest takes place on Box Hill—maybe I should read to compare! An Celestial Persuasion is a lovely story."

It's a cozy mystery set among modern era college students, but yes, what did happen there? :)

I love cozy mysteries, so that sounds like a winner to me. Funnily enough, my story also involves a death—at least, the funeral of a character who is buried there in real life.

Abigail wrote: "I love cozy mysteries, so that sounds like a winner to me. Funnily enough, my story also involves a death—at least, the funeral of a character who is buried there in real life."

Something to anticipate. :)

Okay, time to attack the Christmas pile!

1. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
2. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
3. The Longbourn Letters: The Correspondence between Mr Collins & Mr Bennet by Rose Servitova
4. Cake and Courtship by Mark Brownlow
5. Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Monica Fairview
6. Live, Love, Longbourn by Jennifer Becton
7. What Happened on Box Hill by Elizabeth Gilliland

Almost time for Jane and the Year Without a Summer by Stephanie Barron—but it’s been delayed so many times I don’t dare add it to the list!

This looks like fun!
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This is a great conversation to follow for adding to my TBR list! I didn’t know about the upcoming (hopefully) release from Stephanie Barron either so thank you for that nugget.

Ryan wrote: "This is a great conversation to follow for adding to my TBR list! I didn’t know about the upcoming (hopefully) release from Stephanie Barron either so thank you for that nugget."

Oh yes, you'll find most discussion threads are dangerous for TBR Pile if your willpower to resist books is anything like mine (aka non-existent). LOL

The best kind of danger is adding to the TBR pile @sophia!

Abigail wrote: "Okay, time to attack the Christmas pile!

1. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
2. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
3. [book:The Longbourn Letters: The Correspondenc..."

Kirk picked Mark Brownlow's Cake and Courtship for me last year and I was kicking myself for not reading it sooner! The blurbs, etc., just don't do it justice at all, in my opinion. Read it no matter who your reader match-up turns out to be.

Dana wrote: "This looks like fun!
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Wow, Dana. You've picked a great list of possibilities. They're all great, big Lennie Brown fan here. I loooooved Brenda Webb's, and Lory Lilian's books. And of course, Victoria Kincaid-how can you go wrong. Stop me now. You should just read them all.

I'm composing my list and want to participate, so I'll be back later.

Can't wait for my favorite group activity! Here is my list:
1. Suddenly Betrothed: A Pride and Prejudice variation
(Darcy buys Lizzy's hand with sheep after MA)
2.A Mother's Favorite Wish
(Lizzy is raised as Anne dB)
3. Balter: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice
(ODC meet @ Pemberley for first time)
4.The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet
(Lizzy and Darcy wed young due to compromise, he leaves for years, returns to find a delightful lady in place of young hoyden)
5.Dear Nameless Stranger: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
(Daddy long legs x P&P; letters to unknown benefactor)
6.The Viscounts Goddaughter
(Title self explanatory)
7.Drawing Mr. Darcy: Sketching His Character
(Lizzy raised by rich family, has excellent connections and accomplished)
8.Old Boots: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
(Quippy dialogue & less restrained Darcy)

Thanks for the tip, Michelle!

In Plain Sight: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
Pemberley: Mr. Darcy's Dragon
Tempt Me: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
Mr. Darcy's Daughters
Through the Lens of a Letter: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
Summer's End: A Reimagining of Pride and Prejudice
The Longbourn Letters: The Correspondence between Mr Collins & Mr Bennet

Looking forward to this!

1 Jane Austen at Home
2 Darcy's Temptation: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
3 A Timely Elopement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
4 Pride & Prejudice: Behind the Scenes
5 A Life Worth Choosing: A Jane Austen "Pride and Prejudice" Variation
6 A Most Civil Proposal
7 These Dreams: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Can't wait!

From my TBR
1. Susan Adriani: Misunderstandings and ardent love
2 Jennifer Altman: To conquer Pride
3 Sue Barr: Compromise and consequence
4. Jan Hahn: The Child
5 Laura Hile: Darcy by any other name
6 Jennifer Joy: Accusing Elizabeth
7 KC Kahler: A case of some delicacy
8 Lory Lilian: A man with faults
9 Renee McKenzie: Darcy's labours of love
10 Abigail Reynolds: Conceit and concealment

Pemberley – Laura Moretti
Headstrong: Book One Improvise – Melanie Rachel
Pride, Prejudice & Other Flavors – Sonali Dev
Veni, Vidi, Vicious – Elin Erickson
A Fine Joke – Amy D’Orazio
A Little Whimsical in His Civilities – J. Marie Croft
Second Son: a Pride & Prejudice variation – Cherith Boardman
Less Proud, More Persuasive – Sophie Turner
Dare to Refuse Such a Man – Mary Smythe
Epiphany – Jessie Lewis

@gillian - I’m not doing this challenge myself but I found Sonali Dev’s writing in Pride, Prejudice & Other Flavors to be really good. Her second book (Incense & Sensibility) is in my own TBR pile.

1)What Happened on Box Hill


2)Jane and the year without a summer


3)Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas (reread)


4)Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor(read two centuries ago or so)


5)Holiday w Jane: Christmas Cheer or Will You Be Mine? (rereads)

MichelleH wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Okay, time to attack the Christmas pile!

1. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
2. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
3. [book:The Longbourn Letters: T..."

Yeah!!!!!!

A mixture of fantasy, humour and angst for me ….

The Dragons of Kellynch
Mages and Mysteries: A Fantasy Pride and Prejudice Variation
London Holiday
Old Boots: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
A Man with Faults
An Unwitting Compromise
A Longbourn Entanglement
Faults of Understanding: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Ryan wrote: "@gillian - I’m not doing this challenge myself but I found Sonali Dev’s writing in Pride, Prejudice & Other Flavors to be really good. Her second book (Incense & Sensibility) is in my own TBR pile."

There's also Recipe for Persuasion. Others enjoyed it more than me. And The Emma Project is scheduled for May.

Thanks @Kirk!

Going to continue with my Fanfic experiences (thanks to recommendations from this fab group!)


Bonded Hearts

For Want Of A Nail - By: prhood
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11362442...

Quirks of Fate

Poor decisions - By: maddyv
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12550795...

Cinder Lizzy

Choices - By: JulesAusten82
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7640842/1/3

Connections - A P&P Variation - By: ReaderingH
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13871998/0

An Opinion That Matters

The Means of Uniting Them - By: meverse
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10126049...

In Plain Sight: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
Darcy and Elizabeth: A Promise Kept
A Wilful Misunderstanding: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
A Man with Faults
A Longbourn Entanglement
My Mr. Darcy & Your Mr. Bingley
Reader, I Married Him: A Jane Eyre Inspired Pride and Prejudice Variation
The Lost Heir: A Darcy and Elizabeth Pride and Prejudice Variation
Far From The Tree: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

1. A Hopeful Holiday: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
2. In the Spirit Intended: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas
3. The Companion
4. Mr. Darcy's Feigned Courtship
5. A Splendidly (Un)suitable Match
6. Spies of Our Acquaintance: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
7. Mistaken
8. On Oakham Mount: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
9. For Darkness Shows the Stars
10. Jane Austen, the Secret Radical

Jeannepw wrote: "1. A Hopeful Holiday: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
2. In the Spirit Intended: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas
3. The Companion
4. [book:Mr. Da..."

was mr darcy feigned courtship under a different title at one point?

was mr darcy feigned courtship under a different title at one point?

A Ball for Lady Catherine

Barb wrote: "was mr darcy feigned courtship under a different title at one point?

A Ball for Lady Catherine"

ok thats what i know the title by then.

Alrighty! Here's my list:

Darcy's Denial: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Light and Shadow at Pemberley: A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice

Jennifer KayThe Kidnapping of Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Mr Bennet leaves his study: A Regency Romance based on P&P

A Good Name: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Variation

Tact: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Being Mrs. Bennet

Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex

I just might add another one before the deadline.

Oh, I love that Mary Bennet series represented by your last listing, Michelle!

Abigail wrote: "Oh, I love that Mary Bennet series represented by your last listing, Michelle!"

Ooo that's great to know. I want to get to the entire list eventually. But I'm participating because it's just nice to get a kick in the pants sometimes.

Abigail wrote: "Oh, I love that Mary Bennet series represented by your last listing, Michelle!"

I was talking about "Mary" fanfiction on Zoom this past weekend(we were discussing The Other Bennet Sister) and recommended it!

Kirk wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Oh, I love that Mary Bennet series represented by your last listing, Michelle!"

I was talking about "Mary" fanfiction on Zoom this past weekend(we were discussing The Other Bennet ..."

Kirk, I've become a big Mary variations fans. And I loved The Other Bennet Sister! And always appreciate suggestions.

MichelleH wrote: "Kirk wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Oh, I love that Mary Bennet series represented by your last listing, Michelle!"

I was talking about "Mary" fanfiction on Zoom this past weekend(we were discussing The ..."
I think Mary was included in lists put together (Jeanne and Wise?) a couple years ago of P&P JAFF categories. I will try to dig into the files in the next few days. Sadly, my memory.....

Alas, the one I was thinking of was by Trope in 2019.

Kirk wrote: "Alas, the one I was thinking of was by Trope in 2019."
Thanks tons, Kirk. Thanks for going to the work of searching that. If you're even slightly like I am when these things come up, it would drive me crazy until I found the answer. Ha.

I’m in! Here’s my list!
1. Mistaken Identity
2. Comfort and Joy
3. Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth: A Better Man: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Romance
4. Mr Darcy's Persuasion: An Austen-inspired tale of pride, prejudice and persuasion
5. Passages: A Pemberley Tale
I’ll even throw in a modern from my TBR. I usually don’t prefer modern variations, but from time to time I dip my toe in the water.
6. Lucky 13: Matchmaking and Misunderstandings

Howdy, everyone! I'm so glad you could join our first 'someone else pick it' for the year.

I have randomly drawn names from those who submitted a list of books and will put those just below.

For those who are new to this fun activity, here is what you do next:
1. Find your name in the left hand column and then go to the right hand column to see whose name you drew.
2. Go back up in the discussion thread and find that person's list. Choose a book from that list. And, then make a comment to that person of what book you chose for them. Do this by JANUARY 31st, please.
3. Watch for the person who drew your name to post their pick from your booklist.
4. Start your books on or after February 1st and feel free to come back and leave a comment of what you thought of the book.
If you want to discuss as you're reading, you can comment on your impressions as you go. Just make sure to mark any spoilery comments at the beginning of your comment.


The List from the drawing:
Sophia > Gillian
Patricia > Kirk
Abigail > Crafthj
Dana > Sam
Shifra > abmom
Barb > Jeannepw
Sue > MichelleH
Katja > Dawn
Gillian > Katja
Kirk > Sue
Crafthj > Barb
Sam > Shifra
abmom > Dana
Jeannepw > Abigail
MichelleH > Patricia
Dawn > Sophia

Enjoy your February reading, everyone!
If you have a question or are confused, no worries, just ask.

Howdy, Gillian!

You've got some good ones on your list and it was tough to pick. I'm picking Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev for you. :)

Dana, I choose "Mistress of alk" by Lory lilian for your february read. The summary sounds very interesting. Hope younenjoy it.

Ｓｈｉｆｒａ wrote: "Can't wait for my favorite group activity! Here is my list:
1. Suddenly Betrothed: A Pride and Prejudice variation
(Darcy buys Lizzy's hand with sheep after MA)
2.[book:A Mother's ..."


Shifra!! Yay!
Ok, so, I deliberated between:
The coming of Age of EB - because I really want to read your review
and
Nameless Stranger, because I loved it!

But I am selfish and really want to read your review - so...

The coming of age of EB it is!
E N J O Y! ;)

Hey Abmom,

I've read all but three on your list, and from those I read I enjoyed Far From The Tree: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by far the most, I mean how can you go wrong with a Jeannie Peneaux? Answer: You can't. A delightfully witty 'Lizzy is not a Bennet,' with some amazing ODC moments, their letters- sigh & swoon! I shan't say more, except to wish you happy reading!

Hiya Sam,
As I avowed above, I trust a Peneaux implicitly, so I'll try to find the time to read both. Thank you for the picks 😊

Hi Sue,
Some tough choices. Choosing...
A Time for Elopement!

Happy reading!!!

Hi, Crafty, life these days seems to call for escape into fantasy, so for you I’ll pick The Dragons of Kellynch.

Abigail wrote: "Hi, Crafty, life these days seems to call for escape into fantasy, so for you I’ll pick The Dragons of Kellynch."

Thanks for the nudge I read the P&P based ones last year but got stalled before moving on to the Persuasion ones. I’ll let you know how I get on!